To the faint of heart....don't let it falter. When the vines of despair endeavor to crush that with which you love, always fight back.

~ Equivalence ~

A MasqxGist statistical roleplay.

In the northern part of Valresch rested a beautiful evergreen forest that rested just south of a small expanse of tundra. All year round, the forest was filled with energy and life, but it was also plagued with one of the foulest diseases in existence. A small town rested in a large clearing amidst the trees, the houses all made of logs and topped with straw-thatched roofs, some possessing brick chimneys that listlessly poured smoke into the air that drifted high up beyond the treetops to meet the gray clouds above. The town was called Embrace, a name that originated from the founder of the town who described it as being 'embraced by the trees.' Winter was soon to set upon the town, and things were already growing cold with the sky threatening to dump its first snow upon the area. Food and firewood would become necessities for the townspeople, and the men and some of the women of the village set about stockpiling before things became too harsh. The only thing about living so far north was that the winters were relentless. If there was even one snowstorm, there was devastation and most likely death as a result. Having to deal with the weather along with the disease leaves the people in a fragile state year after year, and this year would be their hardest yet, for in one of the log cabins rested a young woman by the name of Erin Alraune. She was a proud herbalist whose treatments helped get people through the winter for a long time. However, this year, she found herself bedridden because of the disease that ruthlessly stole the lives of so many people in Embrace--the Faltering Heart Syndrome. FHS was a disease that had no cure and claimed 100% of the victims that had contracted it. There were absolutely no survivors. A victim would one day collapse due to extreme exhaustion and become bedridden, after which a persistent cough would arise. The final phase of the disease involved black markings that were very reminiscent of vines crawling up the victim's extremities until they reached the heart where the tips of the vines seemed to wrap themselves in a large knot. At that point, the victim would most likely die the next day, or the day after at the latest.

Lying in bed in her room within her family's cabin, Erin weakly gazed up at the ceiling, a sweat upon her brow. Every few moments she had to let out a horrible string of coughing which left her gasping for air afterwards. In the kitchen stood a young man in a tight-fitting gray shirt with black pants. He brushed a bit of his silver hair from his eyes as he worked as fast as he could to fix some hot herbal tea for the sick girl in the next room. He was Erin's best friend, Vincent Raines. He had probably been more devastated than her parents when she contracted FHS. Everyday he came to her cabin to tend to her. Of course, her parents helped as well. It was a joint effort, but they knew in the end, she would die. Vincent wore a dour expression as he listened to the kettle whistle. He prepared the tea and quickly walked the cup over to Erin's room, helping her sit up so she could drink it.

"Here...you need to drink this. It should help you get some sleep," Vincent said softly, though his voice was typically quiet. He was never one to speak too loudly unless something really got him riled up.

Erin took the cup graciously and sipped it. Her throat was so sore, her voice hoarse. The tea helped sooth it a bit, but she knew she would have another coughing fit in a minute or two. It had become so commonplace. "Thank you...Vin..." she wheezed, feeling awfully short on breath. She let him take the cup from her and she grabbed his arm. "Vin...you can't...let this keep...going on...like this."

"What are you talking about? We're going to keep taking care of you...," he uttered, trying to sound reassuring, but his efforts weren't cutting it causing Erin to laugh which progressed into another coughing fit. "S-sorry."

"You'll keep...taking care of...me until...I..." she panted, taking a moment to get some more coughing out. "Die."

Vincent's arm began to tremble and he tried to pull away, but Erin must have been summoning as much strength as she could to hold him there. He didn't put any extra effort in getting away. He could have, but that would have just been bad for Erin's condition.

"You need....to do...it..."

"D-do what? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Put me out.........of my misery." Erin blinked a few tears out of her eyes before unleashing a torrent of coughs once again. She relinquished her grip on her friend and he stood up immediately, walking over to the wooden bureau and snatching his traveling cloak from atop it, swinging it over his body and fastening it. "Where....where are you....going?" she said as he stopped in the doorway.

"To the witch of Autumn's Trace." His voice couldn't have been more serious than it was. The very words seemed to suck all the air out of the room leaving nothing but a veil of silence and tension in their wake. Coughing broke the effect, but Vincent still remained in the doorway.

"Don't........please..............." Erin's weak voice called out to him, but the tea was starting to help her finally get to sleep. She wanted to call out to him some more, but her weary mind and body refused to let her. The last image she saw was that of her friend about to brave the dangers of the world in order to save her.

But at what cost?

* * *

Vincent was lucky that the Rustic Forest which housed Autumn's Trace happened to be located not too far to the east of his own home forest. He packed enough supplies to last him a round-trip and set out on his little journey across what was known as the Winterlands--a large northern plain that was often perpetually covered in snow in the winter. It separated Embrace Forest and Rustic Forest, and it was once again to Vincent's luck that monsters tended not to inhabit such an open space. The young man successfully made his away through the Winterlands without coming across any trouble and found himself standing before the beautiful Rustic Forest, named so for the deciduous which seemed to be in an eternal autumnal state with leaves being red, orange, yellow, and brown in color all year round. Considering that it was autumn at the present time, it looked normal, but it would not change come winter, spring, or even summer. Preparing himself, Vincent walked into the woods and it didn't take him long to chance upon the immensely small village of Autumn's Trace. Only a few houses had been carved out of the trees, and one large, log cabin stood off to the side which was where the witch resided. A few of the women of the village were out tending to the gardens, watering the plants and such. They spied him from afar and whispered amongst themselves, but did not go to greet him. He walked quickly up to the large cabin and right up the steps to the front door. He knocked upon it a few times and waited, his breathing growing rather ragged from the walk and from nerves. How on earth was he going to handle this?

The front door opened suddenly revealing a beautiful woman in a long, silky, violet dress. With every movement she made, the dress seemed to shimmer slightly which portrayed the image of a bird taking flight upon it. It was quite the illusion. Whoever made the dress had to have been skilled at both thread and magic. The woman's light purple eyes bore into Vincent causing him to stagger backwards. The woman's long, raven black hair seemed unfazed by the gentle breeze that blew through the village. Her skin was an artificial white, as if she were wearing make up, and her black eyeliner and shadow seemed to accentuate the vivid hue of her eyes. She folded her arms over her chest and continued to gaze at the young man who was nearly trembling on her front porch.

"Is there something I can help you with?" the woman practically sang, her voice so smooth and flawless like clean, flowing water. The very sound it unleashed seemed to cause the air to waver in front of her.

Vincent was speechless. Just answer her question..., he thought and took a deep breath. "I've....I've come for a favor," he said, his voice obviously quacking from anxiety and quite low in volume as well.

"Oho, a customer is it? And what is this favor of yours exactly?" the woman, who was definitely the witch, retorted, an amused smile creeping upon her beautiful face.

"I...I w-want you to get rid of the disease that's killing my friend..."

"Oh really now? Do you know which disease it is?"

"Faltering Heart Syndrome."

A wicked gleam seemed to flash across the witch's eyes, but only for a fleeting moment. Her smile did not fade at the news. If anything, she seemed even more pleased. "You are aware there are costs to my favors, yes?" the woman said, her voice serious even if her expression was anything but.

"Of course," Vincent affirmed, his nerves starting to finally calmed down. It seemed like the woman was really going to do it, but in the depths of his mind, he wondered what the cost would be.

"Good. Faltering Heart would kill your friend; as it stands, he or she has a death sentence. So, in exchange from freeing her from the grasp of death, you will take her place. A life for a life. You are to come far away with me to a different land and you will serve me until I decide to kill you. It could be soon, or it may be way later on. It all depends," the witch explained with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders. "That is your cost and it is non-negotiable. Do you accept these terms?"

Vincent thought intently. The answer was obvious. He had to hand his life over to the witch so that Erin would be allowed to live the rest of her life. "I accept," he said, trying not to sound defeated. He was doing this voluntarily after all.

"Excellent. Go back to your town and bring your friend back here." The witch waved a hand through the air causing a violet mist to surround him before fading away. "I have placed a ward over you that will protect you from harm. The first person you touch will receive the gift as well, so be careful. You should be able to travel back to the town safely and retrieve your friend, and then safely return here as well. Now, go," the witch directed, waving a hand towards the forest indicating that he should hurry.

And hurry he did. He ran through the Rustic Forest and back across the Winterlands, stopping to make camp when needed, before eventually making it all the way back to Embrace. The witch's ward worked wonders, it seemed. Vincent walked into Erin's house and explained everything that was to happen to her parents. They were quick to try and stop him, but he told them the deal had already been made. If it was too late, then he might as well get Erin back to health. With that, they allowed him to take the unconscious girl. Out into the night he went carrying his friend in his arms as he ran. Time seemed to slow down around him as he continued onward. He could hear the wicked laughter of the witch in his mind and knew that this was her doing. She really did possess extraordinary power. In time, he made it into the Rustic Forest and all the way to the witch's cabin in Autumn's Trace. Looking into the starry skies, he saw the moon was almost in the same place it was when he had left Embrace.

"Unbelievable...." he muttered in awe while placing Erin gently down on the top step before approaching the door, raising his fist to knock on it only to have it fly open before he had the chance. Standing before him was the witch wearing another long silky dress that was light green in color with dark green tree silhouettes at the bottom that seemed to sway as if being caressed by a gentle breeze, even when the witch was standing still.

"I see you brought her in such a timely manner," the witch cooed, brushing him aside before walking up to Erin. She seemed peaceful enough now, and that was due to her magic. "But that won't last forever. Let us get down to business," she stated firmly before holding her palm high above the girl. A bright green light appeared in the witch's hand and suddenly, a torrent of black vines surged out of Erin's body, flowing into the green light. As more and more of the darkness flowed into it, the light began to become corrupted and instead of being free and flowing, it solidified. The witch yanked her hand away and held the solid black sphere in her hand, thrusting it into Vincent's grasp. "The deed is done. You're coming with me." With that, she snapped her fingers and she along with Vincent, and everything in the cabin that belonged to the witch just up and disappeared as if no one had ever been there leaving Erin to sleep peacefully and in perfect health on the top step.

* * *

The next day came and Erin opened her eyes, blinking as she took in her surroundings. What was she doing at this cabin? What was she doing outside?! She was so sick, or....wait. The girl took in a deep breath of air, the smell of the forest filling her lungs easily. She wasn't tired at all. Standing up suddenly, she looked around again. No coughing fits. Gazing down at her arms, she realized there were no more black markings. The disease was gone! She wasn't going to die! An overwhelming feeling took hold of her and she smiled, but that was before realizing the last thing she saw before falling asleep that one night was...

"Vincent." Erin looked around in a panic. The trees....they weren't evergreens. This was Rustic Forest. The homes...and the female villagers. She could have only been in one place, and that was Autumn's Trace. Vincent had truly come to the witch for help, and help Erin she had. However, there was no sign of the witch anymore. Erin walked up to the cabin door and tried to open it, glad to see that it wasn't locked. The inside was empty. There was no sign of the witch, and what was worse was that there was no sign of Vincent. Erin made her way out of the cabin and into the village where the other women made their homes in the trees. Speaking with a few, she learned the story of what had happened. The witch had moved to some unknown location and taken Vincent with her as the cost of his favor. Once overwhelmed by joy, Erin now felt herself crumpling under the weight of despair. She forced herself back to the cabin where the witch once stayed and sat upon the top step. She cried. The tears burst out of her eyes like water from a broken dam. Her anguished sobs resounded throughout the village, and the maidens living there lamented as well. Even nature seemed to weep for her, sharing in her sorrows. And what made everything worse was that there was nothing she could do. She would never see Vincent again, and that was that. The day past, and then another. She ate nor drank, but merely sat there on the steps, gazing out into the forest vacantly.

"Miss, you need to eat something. Here," one of the villagers approached Erin the next day and gave her fresh fruit to eat and milk to drink. She watched as Erin accepted the gifts, but her eyes were so listless and dead. She may as well have been stuck with the disease.

More days went by as the villagers took care of Erin. Some offered her a home to sleep in, but she passed. Others tried to get her to leave and move on, but she wasn't falling for that either. She felt miserable. Vincent could have been anywhere in the world right now, or worse, dead. It was all her fault. It seemed as though a couple of weeks had passed, and she began walking around. The villagers offered to help her bathe, but she said she could do it herself as long as they provided toiletries and a place to do so. She was managing to stay active and eating amounts that she should be eating every day instead of starving herself. Still, her primary spot was right there on the top step of the witch's old cabin. It was there she stayed until one day, she heard rumors that two beings had entered the forest in search of the which.

Erin decided that if the villagers didn't tell the beings to go away, then she would do it herself. She awaited on her step, keeping an eye out for strangers in the case that they should make it to the cabin.

Last edited by Masquerade on Wed Jul 03, 2013 11:12 am; edited 1 time in total

Dharc Johansen was a young man who loved what he was. He often did not care aboujt anything else but his own interests. He took stride in his faults and was arrogant to no end. He always made sure that he was the one to come first in any predicament. So far, his lifestyle had not been interrupted, and he was as free as a lively sparrow… until something pulled him from his reverie. Vincent had disappeared. He just vanished, without a single word to anyone that knew and loved him. Or so he thought. A dazzling handsome man at the prime age of 23 years old, long brown hair that went down his neck and covered his broad shoulders, sparkling green eyes that seemed to perpetually shine even without the graces of light, lily white skin that seemed to have never seen the light of day, and clothes that tailored to his current mood. His friend’s disappearance took him for a whirl, however. The morning he heard of it, he had taken it without a moment to lose. As he thought about it though, memories had poured into his mind, memories from his times with Vincent…

Their first meeting.Their first true friendship.Their first lady friends.Their last time they saw each other…

Dharc had recoiled from that. He was less than content to have a vulnerable place in his heart, but he let the memory flow through anyway. The last time they had met, it was shortly after he had made his wish with the Witch. He had desired eternal youth, and in return, all of him would remain frozen in time, never letting him mature. He didn’t think that a large price to pay at the time, and hastily accepted the deal. The witch cackled and bathed him in a dark, purple light. He felt his movements stop, his biology beginning to freeze, and his image being halted in time. Unknowingly, he thanked the witch and hurriedly went to tell Vincent the news he received. Vincent took it less than lightly though. As he thought back upon it, he must have realized the grave repercussions of what he had done to himself. He mourned Dharc for a bit, then detached from him completely.

Dharc was confused. What had he done wrong? If he were to stay young forever, wouldn’t he be able to see Vincent for an eternity? Never grow old and crippled, bedridden at the mere sight of sickness? Vincent turned away from him, and instead went to his other friend, Erin. Erin was a healer of power, he knew that, but what did she have that he didn’t? For fourteen days and nights, he mused this, no longer needing to eat or perform normal human functions. Once he was frozen in time, so too was his biology. He had forsaken his mortality for his image. He wasn’t entirely sure this is what he asked for. He needed to go find the witch. Not too long after the incident occurred, he grew to hate Vincent. He left Dharc alone to deal with the burden of his decision. All without even a goodbye. He swore that he would find both the witch and Vincent. He wanted closure… and revenge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tiffany Lorewhy was a conceited, self-centered person who stood under the guise of helping others. She loved the feeling she got from helping them, so she made sure that she was not alone in spreading “joy”. People thanked her for her kindness and attempted to give her gifts. She refused them all, telling them that the greater gift in life was a sense of goodwill and accomplishment. She knew deep inside that she would not be sustained forever on the penniless existence she pushed her image out there with. Something else had to be done. She looked to the deity that she worshipped. Why couldn’t she be something grand and divine like that? She reached up to the heavens, yearning for that which would make her a transcendant being. She packed her bags, and made the journey to the rustic forest. At the edge, a howling, shrieking wind stopped her in her tracks, making her long curtain of blonde hair go through the wind as if it were a part of it. Her dress clung to her like a second skin, hiding not very much. She shivered from the sudden bite of the wind and crossed her arms across her chest. She thought about it. Was it worth the cost it would be to have a taste of divinity? Would she be able to not regret her decision? She looked back at the sunny countryside behind her.

This was her final chance to turn back if she so desired. Shall she save herself from the clutches of temptation, or will she be eternally damned for her hubris. She bowed her head in thought. She liked the feeling of helping people. She was greedy, and expected that feeling to become dull sooner or later. She needed something new and exciting. Turning her chin upward, she walked into the forest. It seemed to be an eternal twilight in that forest, fiery leaves of all colors blowing in the wind. She didn’t turn back. She needed to see this through now that she was this far. She did not stop moving for anything until she reached the cabin. It seemed that there was an eerie chill outside the cabin. It looked tranquil, yes, but there was an aura about it that seemed to be devoid of any feeling whatsoever. She shuddered as she raised her fist up to the wood. This was her absolute last chance to turn back. Could she save herself? No, she couldn’t. She daintily knocked on the door. Almost on cue, the door opened and the witch smiled at her with those vivid eyes.

"Hello, my dear."

"Hello." Tiffany was shaken by the witch's pleasant demeanor. Weren't they all evil?

"I believe you have something to ask of me."

"As a matter of fact, I do." Tiffany repositioned her footing and looked into the witch's eyes.

The witch smiled. "I assume you know that compensation is required."

"Of course. No more, no less."

The witch softly tittered. "Very well, then, my child. What is it that you desire?"

Tiffany tried to swallow, but could not. "I want the seat of divinity. I want to perform my own miracles. I want people to worship and revere me."

The witch looked at Tiffany with knowing eyes. "A tall order that you know the cost will be drastic. Are you sure that you want to continue with this? I don't give refunds."

"I believe I am ready."

"Very well. The cost of having divine powers is the sacrifice of your mortal image. You will be seen for what you truly are." A golden light enveloped Tiffany. "So mote it be. Now fly away, my goddess!"

With that, Tiffany was where she started. She didn't... feel any different... And she didn't look any different... But when a villager saw her, she screamed in fear and ran for her life. Tiffany could not understand. Everywhere she went,people avoided her like the plague. She needed to find the witch. On her way back there, she saw a handsome man who didn't look a day over twenty. Yet he had the vacant look in his eyes that she did. "The witch..."

"The witch..."

The two trekked to the witch's cottage, and only found a girl sitting on the doorstep. "We are here to see the witch."

"She may answer our problems..."

The two spoke in a monotonous voice, almost in unison. Hopefully, the girl wasn't frightened by their demeanour...

They were such a sad sight, the duo was. From her spot on the top step of the witch's old cabin, Erin spied two new arrivals to Autumn's Trace, and they certainly didn't look like they were touring the town for prime real estate. There was this aura about them, and Erin had a sneaking suspicion that they weren't here to make a wish either. She watched them as they made their way through the village, their destination definitely the cabin. None of the female villagers approached the two, and even seemed to shy away from them. Things were about as quiet as they always were in this tranquil place, but there was a definite difference between a serene silence and a foreboding one.

Upon reaching the cabin, Erin gasped. There was a man, so handsome and youthful, but for some reason he didn't exactly seem happy about anything--certainly not his good looks. He actually looked quite familiar. She was almost certain that he was a friend of Vincent's, and therefore he must have hailed from Embrace. She didn't recall any rumors about a townsperson making a wish, but with his unnatural appearance, she was certain that he had. Beside him stood a young woman who looked rather tired and almost sickly in appearance. The voided look in her eyes told a tale of woe with no words. She had to have gone through something terrible which was a shame. She was very pretty. Erin sensed great power within her, and upon closer inspection, she could see the glow of divinity about her. But there was something greatly off-putting about it. Erin shrugged that off. There was no doubt in her mind now that these two were victims of the witch. The herbalist briefly pondered if that's what she first looked like when she came to the realization of what had happened to her...and what had happened to Vincent. Did she still look like that now?

"If you have come to see the witch, you are too little too late," Erin sighed in response as they inquired about the witch. Were they here to ask for refunds? Everyone knew the witch did not give refunds. Were they foolish enough to challenge the all-powerful witch? Desperation was a good motivator. There was nothing more frightening than a person with nothing to lose. "A week or two ago, I awoke right here on this step," Erin explained, figuring the two deserved to know what had happened to the witch. "This cabin was empty. It still is. The witch, after granting my friend Vincent's wish, disappeared into thin air, and....and I believe she wound up taking my friend with her as the cost of alleviating me of my illness." The sting of tears forming in her eyes made her shake her head, patting her cheeks a couple of times lightly to get a hold of herself. Somehow, saying the words stirred up the old feelings that she had tried so hard to bury, but they weren't even a foot below the surface.

"So it seems this is my fault, and I apologize sincerely," Erin said in recompense, bowing her head low in sorrow. The witch not being here may have saved their lives, but there was no way she could know that would be how they saw things. She hoped they weren't too upset. The last thing they looked like they needed was bad news, and this was sure to be a striking blow. What else could be done?

"If you have come to see the witch, you are too little too late. A week or two ago, I awoke right here on this step. This cabin was empty. It still is. The witch, after granting my friend Vincent's wish, disappeared into thin air, and....and I believe she wound up taking my friend with her as the cost of alleviating me of my illness. So it seems this is my fault, and I apologize sincerely."

Dharc watched as the girl bowed her head down and almost began to sob. Dharc got an evil expression on his face as he looked down at the girl. "You don't even realize what I've been through with this woman. I know you're hiding her somewhere. Tell me!" He went to grasp for the girl's throat. He was only barely stopped by the priestess.

"Stop! You don't know what you're doing!"

"Get your hands off me, bitch!" Dharc whirled and slapped Tiffany, causing her to cascade down, the sharp crack echoing around the silent forest. He turned back upon the sobbing girl, eyes ablaze. "You know where Vincent is. Tell me where he is!"

"Stop!" Tiffany pulled her orb from within her downright robe, muttered and with a bright spark, halted Dharc in his place. "I'm so sorry. I hope he didn't hurt you... Yes, were a tad bit upset that the witch has left this place." The eternal twilight somberly shone upon the three of them, almost sympathizing with their pain. "I think we'll just have to find her. I must speak with her. I do not believe there was an equivalent exchange." The haunted look came back to her eyes. "My apologies for bothering you." She turned and began to leave, releasing Dharc from his bond.

Dharc looked at the girl while the priestess held him in place. He writhed and silently screamed. Though something seemed familiar about the girl. He took a chance. "Erin? Is that you? But I thought you were dying! How are you still here?" Then he was reminded of Vincent's sacrifice. His eyes darkened and he resolved himself of his mission. He thought the priestess had the same ulterior goal that he did, so he turned towards Erin one more time. "I'm sorry about that, Erin. I haven't been myself since Vincent left. I didn't mean any of what I said. I have to go find her. She's the one responsible." With that, Dharc went to join the priestess. "My bad. I wasn't myself back there. I'm sorry. What's your name?"

"It's okay. I deserved it." The monotone still stood in both of their voices. "I'm Tiffany. Tiffany Lorewhy. What's your name?"

"Dharc. Dharc Johansen."

The two began to walk out of the cottage clearing, side by side, ready for the trials and travels that awaited them.

Erin's heart skipped a beat as the tranquility of the village was shattered in an instant by the man's shouting. The desperation was so evident that the girl felt as though it were draping over her form with every word he released into the air. It caused Erin to shiver, and she flinched back but did not deign to get up from her spot. Vines surged out of the ground, long green tendrils with their tips snapping at the air. They formed an 'x' shape in front of her as if to bar her from harm. She watched the woman who was accompanying him try to dissuade him from his course of action, but the sound of the resulting smack echoed throughout the area. Erin trembled in rage that he would even dare lay a hand upon a woman, but it seemed said woman was quite capable of handling herself. She offered apologies.

"It's fine...I can understand the weight upon your shoulders," Erin managed to reply, her breath still hitching, her heart returning to a normal pace. She listened to the man's words. That's where she knew him from! He was from Embrace! It was Dharc, a rather arrogant prick who happened to be a good friend of Vincent's...or at least he used to be. She knew that things between Dharc and Vincent had grown tense. It must have been because Dharc went to the witch with a wish. She hated that Vincent had to stoop to that level for her, and now his very life was in danger. She hoped that Dharc wouldn't hold it against her. She was already beating herself up quite well over it. He had apologized to her, but she didn't even get the chance to respond. The two empty souls that stood before her were starting to drift away with no leads on finding the witch.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!" Erin shouted suddenly, practically leaping off the steps, the vines sinking back into the ground in response to her sudden activity. She outstretched a hand towards them, hoping they would stop. "You don't even know where you're going!" Her other hand clenched into a fist. Now there were a couple of tears falling from her eyes leaving a warm salty trail of wetness along her pale cheeks. She had to. All along she could have hunted the witch herself, but there were strength in numbers. There wasn't any way she could do it alone. But she had an idea. Before she was content with sitting alone on that step for eternity, but now that she was ready to take action, various information was surging through her mind, and now was the time to utilize it.

“STOP RIGHT THERE! You don’t even know where you’re going! I want you to take me with you.”

Tiffany noticed a tug on her skirt. She turned to face the tug. Erin had tugged her skirt, and had her other hand balled into a fist. Tears fell down the girl’s face, noting her passion on the subject. Did she want to lose someone else that she had only recently come into contact with? She might not doubt it. She examined the girl a bit closer. A forest green sundress that had a pattern that resembled a climbing vine at the hem, a red gem on her wrist, and a frightened, determined look in her eyes. She thought back to Dharc’s outburst. She certainly knew how to handle herself in case she was going to get attacked. That was always a good sign... Why did she want to come with floaters like them? Certainly she didn’t want to be in their empty world without a reason… “Why do you want to come with us, Erin? Certainly we don’t hold any interest for you. We’ve fallen so far…” She let out a ghost of a laugh and downcast her eyes once more.

Dharc paused as Tiffany turned around. Erin had tugged on her skirt. She was about to cry. He hated things like that. It made him feel sorry and compassionate. He averted his eyes from her sparkling ones to try and avoid the full effect. “What reason would you have to hunt the witch? Vincent cured you. You shouldn’t go risk the life he paid so dearly for just on a whim. And now that I think on it, you shouldn’t know where you’re going, either. Are you actually hiding something from us?” Dharc’s hand itched for his scythe, which was harnessed to his back by a thin cord. A single snap, and the girl’s head would be off. Those vines wouldn’t protect her against that sharp steel. Dharc locked his stare into those sparkling eyes, which were now leaking tears. Was Erin an ally or enemy? His distrust radiated from him like fire’s heat.

Had she fallen so far? Erin's best friend was gone because of her. Why didn't he just let her die? It didn't matter. She was in despair, but there was that glimmer of hope that lingered within these sad souls, and she would just have to make them see it if that's what it took. The distrust was thick from Dharc, but she ignored it, trying her best to compose herself. The lingering tearstains upon her cheek a constant reminder of her breaking down--a reminder of those old feelings that would probably never go away. A crisp wind blew through the village causing the autumnal leaves to rustle in the trees, tousling Erin's dirty blonde hair about as well. It was refreshing, and it gave Erin the boost she needed as she stood strong in the silence before the strangers...or not so much strangers, really. She knew Dharc at the very least, and Tiffany seemed like a kind woman. Now it was time.

"The only thing I haven't told you...is the lead I have on the witch," Erin stated strongly, her voice not wavering or nervous in any regard. This was how she usually sounded. The depression had weighed down on her for far too long. "The reason I am risking my life is to find Vincent. I'm only doing for him what he did for me. The witch has him...somewhere..." Her voice trailed off as she suddenly thought about how big Valresch was, and even then, the witch didn't have to be in Valresch. She could have fled to another continent entirely, but Erin hoped it would not come to that. As far as she knew, Valresch was the most civilized continent, and not many people knew what lie beyond the vast blue.

"We need to return to Embrace," she said with resolve, taking in a deep breath. "I need collect something of Vincent's and let his parents know what's going on. I should let my own parents know I'm okay as well." She realized that probably wasn't making much sense, so she decided to get straight to the point. "I want to try scrying. There's a star-seer in Equinox who can do it for us. We can't scry for the witch directly; we don't have an item of hers and she made sure we wouldn't when she whisked all her stuff away. But with an item of Vincent's, we can scry for him. If we find his location, we have found the witch."

She let the information set in. It was a fool-proof plan save for the fact that if the witch killed Vincent, then she probably didn't have his body with her anymore, though the thought caused her to shiver and she deigned not consider that a possibility for now. The other problem was that they would most likely have conflict with the witch which would undoubtedly wind up with all of them dying. It was a good thing that these people had nothing left to lose.

"The only thing I haven't told you... is the lead I have on the witch. The reason I am risking my life is to find Vincent. I'm only doing for him what he did for me. The witch has him...somewhere... We need to return to Embrace. "I need collect something of Vincent's and let his parents know what's going on. I should let my own parents know I'm okay as well. I want to try scrying. There's a star-seer in Equinox who can do it for us. We can't scry for the witch directly; we don't have an item of hers and she made sure we wouldn't when she whisked all her stuff away. But with an item of Vincent's, we can scry for him. If we find his location, we have found the witch."

Tiffany thought about the information Erin spoke. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to scry for the boy, whomever he was, as he seemed to be where the witch was. What else did she possibly have to do? She really thought of the prospect of venturing to find the witch, and now the boy. If she went, she might not be able to return to places she considered home. This phased her a small bit. She placed a hand on her rather large chest. She already couldn’t return home because of everything she had done. Tears fell down Tiffany’s face as well. “It sounds like a solid plan. What can I lose? I’m such a monster. No one would want to see me, and they’re sure to run as far away from me as I can.” Tiffany stepped out of the way. “I will join you. Lead the way.” Tiffany folded her hands across her chest and waited for Erin to lead the pair of them onto the first step of their pilgrimage.

Dharc listened to Erin’s plan with mild interest. Everything he did would have a cost to him, but hasn’t he already paid the ultimate price? What else did Dharc have to lose? His soul? Hah. He lacked it after what he paid to the witch. He wished that he hadn’t put Vincent through what he did. It made him feel guilty, and that never felt good. The wind blew throughout the forest, making everyone’s hair lift. “I need to trust you, Erin, if I’m going to see Vincent again. I’m angry that he abandoned me like dirt even after I made a bad life decision, but I miss the man. You might be the only one who may have a halfway decent plan on getting there.” Dharc shifted his footing and looked away from Erin. “I don’t quite remember the way to Vincent’s place. I haven’t been there in quite some time. Lead the way.” With that, Dharc stepped away from the exit out the clearing like Tiffany had, waiting for Erin to take them on their first steps.

Erin smiled as the duo finally decided to accept her. Deep inside they might not be fully trustful yet, but she was certain to prove to them that she was all for them. It seemed as though they had learned something from their past mistakes and now sought redemption, and she definitely believed that they deserved it. "I'd like to think that Vincent would understand now more than ever why you made the decision that you did, Dharc. I really hope you two can go back to being friends," Erin said with a soft smile. They expected her to take the lead, for she knew the best route to get back to Embrace, so she walked past them and led them into the Rustic Forest, their immediate destination being the frosty expanse of the Winterlands.

The crispness of the air didn't falter as they became surrounded by trees with their autumn foliage. Silence filled the space between them save for the call of a wild animal every so often, or the rustling of leaves. The group continued to trod down the path leading out of the forest, the soil surprisingly soft to the step. Whereas Embrace's forest was known for lumber, no one would dare try to utilize the Rustic Forest in that way. This forest was revered by the women of Autumn's Trace for a reason that know one has come to understand, for they are not the most welcoming of people. Those who visit are often greeted by silence, and silence accompanies them as the depart the small, mysterious village. Rumors say that the witch used to be one of the villagers and managed to find her power deep within the forest's uncharted regions to the east, but no one has ever been able to prove such a thing, and as such remains an urban legend.

Erin halted in her tracks. The forest was warning her. She could hear the protests of the nearby trees telling her that her and her newfound allies were in danger. "We've made good progress, but we're not alone," she said, reaching for her rose pendant that hung about her neck. A thick vine wound its way up from the fertile soil and guarded the herbalist closely as her eyes scanned the area. The trees whispered in her ear a location, and upon looking there, she found what they would be facing. Three little creatures had appeared out of the surrounding autumnal brush. They were immensely short, probably only coming up to a person's knee. Their bodies were a light brown like a baked good, and they had autumn foliage growing out of their heads with a few orange and gold leaves fanned out on their hands. They had two beady eyes each and a mouth full of sharp, white fangs. They appeared to dance eagerly on the path, muttering to themselves with weird sounds.

"Ugh, mandragora," Erin muttered, entering a battle stance. "Not much to worry over, but they need to be eliminated. I don't think they're going to let us through without a hassle." Indeed she was correct. They little plant creatures had their eyes set on the trio and they didn't appear as though they were going to move anytime soon. It was time to do away with them.

Dharc watched the scenery around him. It was mystical and it seemed to shimmer with natural energy. He almost smiled at the quaint, quiet majesty of the place as the three of them waltzed down the beaten path towards Embrace. The wind softly blew, scattering leaves of many hues through the wind, making it all the more mysterious and beautiful. Every crisp crunch under his boots kept him awake and looking for any signs of trouble. There seemed to be none, though, as this place was absolutely tranquil. In the distance, he noticed packs of women keeping their heads down and their hands folded, a permanent wistful smile on each of their faces. Oh. That’s why it’s so nice here. This place is either a nunnery or a harem. Dharc smirked a tad bit with his inappropriate thoughts as the trio walked down the path out of the Rustic Forest. Soon, though, Erin stopped them and stated that they weren’t alone. Dharc watched warily in the distance for signs of danger. Finally, he saw a few leetle people marching towards them. Little people? Were they dangerous? Erin said that they were Mandragoras. Dharc remembered from the few times he went with Erin through the forest that they were plant people who desired to harm anything that was larger than them. Fortunately, they were more of an annoyance than a threat. Dharc ran towards an opening through a line of trees. Perhaps he could flank the things. With a single touch, the rope snapped and he took his scythe into his hand. ”Finally, something to shatter this stifling peace. Let us play.”

Tiffany was walking alongside her newfound companions and at the moment was admiring the gorgeous scenery. The way the trees rustled in the wind, the way the leaves fell so that the air shimmered with color and energy, the fact that not a manufactured noise permeated the atmosphere. She saw clumps of women in the distance, heads down as if they were praying to an unknown being. Her thoughts wandered as the trio walked down the path to Embrace. Could she get away with just staying here? Her discontent was being ebbed away by the sheer aura of this place. She wouldn’t feel bad just quitting would she? People didn’t seem to run as far away from her here, did they? Yes, they did. She couldn’t delude herself. People still saw her as a monster, and she knew it. She softly sighed as the beginning of her true journey was taking place, when Erin stopped them. They were not alone, she said. Like Dharc beside her, Tiffany scanned the immediate area to try and find what was joining them. In the distance in front of them, there seemed to be three leetle green people marching towards them, fangs bared and small, high-pitched voices coming at them. She winced and looked to Dharc to see what he would do. He snickered, said a line in that menacing voice of his, and took off to the far side of the clearing. She sighed as Erin got situated, and went to go stand beside her, raising her crystal ball and letting it levitate in front of her. She was ready to begin. ”They look cute… I wish we didn’t have to destroy them…”

The mandragora had finally come to a stop in their advance, noticing that their targets were definitely not going down without a fight. Erin could spy their quivering forms; the plant creatures were terrified, but they still weren't running away. The only thing left to do was smash them into submission. Moving forward, Erin kept the little creatures in her sights. The trees whispered to her about a dangerous ability that they possessed. They could emit a flash of light suddenly rendering the viewer blind. It was a great escape mechanism, or one that would guarantee the mandragora a tasty meal. Keeping this in mind, Erin kept her distance. She wasn't one for close combat anyway. Her hand moved out to stroke the green vine that had moved through the ground along with her. It seemed to swoon at her caress, but her hawk-like gaze was set on her foes.

Seems like Dharc and Tiffany are definitely on board with shredding these creatures, Erin thought, relieved. She didn't doubt the potential of their power, but there was no telling. Now she could get a taste of what they could do, and that was something she was definitely curious about. After all, they already had to brave the wilds once to reach Autumn's Trace, so how would they handle the dangers along the path to find the deceitful woman once more?

Erin waits.

Last edited by Masquerade on Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:37 pm; edited 1 time in total

Dharc watched as Erin moved forward towards the creatures. He smiled. She seemed to be eager to fight. This was a good thing; he didn't want to be fighting with pansies... Sighing, he began his advance towards the straightaway that led towards the monsters' flank. With an afterthought, Dharc looked back towards Tiffany, the supposed cleric. She seemed to look scared, but she was holding that crystal ball of hers and was paying close attention to the enemies in front of her. He wondered if she noticed his gaze as it proceeded towards her chest. Probably not. He darkly snickered and looked towards the Mandragora. They shouldn't last too long if he rushed this. He caressed his blade with care, loving the way it shone in the never-ending twilight sun. He was ready to play "Bring it on, you monsters!" He died a little inside, knowing that he himself was a monster, but the heat of excitement soon drove the guilt away, ave he was ready to begin.

Tiffany regarded the enemies in front of her. As they drew closer, she began to see that they weren't all cute and cuddly, either... Looking as Erin moved forward, she moved behind her. A faint smell of basil and strawberries. An odd combination, but it worked. She felt a pair of eyes on her. Most likely Dharc's. He was a pig. She could almost feel the heat from him, and he began to look at her chest instead of her face. Furiously blushing, she needed to concentrate on something else... Closing her eyes, she began to mutter to the heavens. "O Everlasting Light, I beg of thee to swathe my companion in a cocoon of light. Protect and warm her. Keep her safe." She knelt and a pink light came from her crystal ball and engulfed Erin in a warm light that she could feel from where she was standing. The deed was done.

Feeling a bit more protected than she had before, Erin took in a deep breath. The light was so warm and friendly, and it seemed as if it wanted her to live more than anything. Surely she couldn't let it down. She had no plans on dying until she found Vincent. It really didn't get much more simple than that. "Thank you, Tiffany," the herablist expressed her gratitude with a soft voice and a sinister smirk. Oh these things didn't have a clue what they had coming to them. As much as she loved nature, she couldn't tolerate the persistent annoyance that happened to be the mandragora. Clutching her necklace, she could feel the power emanating from it, commanding her vine to surge under the ground and pop up near her target. The thing cracked like a whip, snapping at the helpless mandragora that it had been directed to antagonize. The thing let out a squeak of terror which caused Erin's grin of delight to widen.

"I can be all kinds of reckless now," Erin murmured loud enough for Tiffany to hear. The woman's magic was quite potent. She felt like she could take on the world which may have been a blessing or a curse in a different situation, but for now it was about the biggest blessing they could receive short of these pests spontaneously combusting. The trees seemed to bombard her thoughts with cries of terror at the chance of a wildfire, and she soothed them by telling them that the odds of that were slim to none How excitable nature happened to be, and what a job it was to calm it.

Erin waits.

Last edited by Masquerade on Thu Aug 08, 2013 3:54 pm; edited 1 time in total

Dharc moved closer to one of the mandragora. He thought he smelled somehting that reminded him of earth and tomatio leaves. It wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't acrid, either. If it was making sound as he moved closer to it, he couldn't hear anything. As he looked at it, he retreated within himself. He thought back to when Vincent was showing him how to use a scythe. He remembered the way that he gently guided Dharc through the motions of how to hold himself and how to follow through with each swing. He almost let himself cry at it. However, Vincent no longer mattered. He didn't support Dharc's decision, and for that, he could not forgive him. Dharc needed to go and gie him a piece of his mind, which meant that he had to find him. And these mandragora were in his way. He grabbed his scythe and muttered softly in what sounded like French. He spun in place and phantasmal blades emitted from the metal, surging towards the plant creature. One, two, three, four, five surged through the thing. "You are obstructing my path. You must die."

Tiffany nodded at the thanks she received from the herbalist. She moved closer to her side, running through the battle scene and calculating what she should do. Dharc unleashed an attack that seemed to have blades coming ou tof his being. She thought she could hear birds chirping in the distance. Impressive... She then turned to the mandragora she was standing in front of. She smelled a faint scent of tomato leaves and dirt. She couldn't hear any noise coming out of the creature, but Erin had said that they cry. Was she the only one that could hear it? Or was there something wrong with Tiffany? She shuddered a bit and brought her crystal ball in front of her. She muttered a prayer to her patron goddess, Atona. Maybe she could clear their path so that maybe this plight could be reversed... O, my Goddess, please hear my prayer. Help us clear this infested path and makes these lives unburdened! I ask of you to give me strength and to never let my light fade!"

"That power!" Erin gasped as she took a leap back as the feeble mandragora that had approached her tried to scratch at her and succeeded, though the damage was quite negligible. Her eyes were still trained on Dharc who had completely demolished one of the helpless creatures by himself. The mangled plant matter now rested in pieces strewn about haphazardly. It was almost frightening. So this was the power of those who had traveled such a long way by themselves to visit the witch. Erin became quite hopeful. With their strength, maybe they actually did stand a chance against the witch should a physical confrontation come to pass. Never before I had I even imagined... she thought before commanding her vine to assault the nearest mandragora.

"The longer they stay alive, the longer they have a chance to feast upon the sun's energy," Erin informed her allies using her vast knowledge of plants and plant creatures. "Mandragora have the ability to harvest the sun in order to recover their injuries and replenish their pool of mana. It's quite crafty but I don't think it's going to help them much in this instance."

Erin attacks Hue! 5 Dmg! (INT)

Last edited by Masquerade on Sun Aug 18, 2013 10:53 am; edited 1 time in total

Dharc saw the flash coming out of the creature... and that's about it. He staggered back from the thing, trying to make sense of everything. Everything seemed to be moving a tad bit slower, and it... throbbed? He didn't know. He walked to his right until he hit something solid. He fell down and looked up at what hit him. It was a huge oak tree. He sighed. How did he manage to crash into something that couldn't even move? He would never know. Trying to get back what little dignity he had left, he stood and grabbed ahold of the trunk to his right, panting. He had seen Erin's impressment with him. He let out a little smirk himself. That was nothing. She needed to wait to see something that was truly impressive. Tiffany, though, didn't seem all that thrilled. He didn't care about her, though. She didn't matter as much as Erin did, simply because of the fact that Dharc had known Erin since he was a little boy. Enough of the flashbacks, though. He tightly gripped his scythe in his hand and tried to keep the image of the mandragora still. He wasn't very successful, either, as it continued to bob around... He swore at himself and held his scythe in front of his face, as if it could actually shield him from being hit...

Tiffany watched Dharc stagger backwards as the mandragora released a blinding light. She was a ways away from it, so it didn't really affecet her, but still, she thought that it would be hell for Dharc... She sighed. He'd be able to take care of himself. As for Erin, though, the light that she had swathed them in wouldn't last too terribly long, so they needed to wrap this up. She flanked the other mandragora from the other side, letting loose a psychic blast from her crystal ball. She thought she could see the mandragora being oushed back by the invisible force, but that may simply be just wishful thinking. She hoped it wasn't... She slumped a bit from the exhaustion the battle was tolling on her. She didn't know how much more she could take...

Erin quickly shielded her eyes, but she wasn't fast enough. She should have known the creature would defensively try to blind her, and yet she disregarded the fact completely. Rubbing her eyes, she squinted at what lie before her--a fleeing mandragora..and a bunch of flashing white lights that refused to go away, obscuring her vision partially. It was a mild annoyance at best. They had to keep up the pressure if it was going to flee, and Erin had the right thing in mind for the job. Fiddling around in one of her pouches, she produced a slim vial filled to the brim with a malevolent, violet liquid. It radiated danger, and Erin laced the vial between her fingers, moving forward and taking aim. With a quick flick of the wrist, the vial was sent hurtling through the air and the white lights, hopefully landing with a crash against the plant creature.

Erin moves to G5.

Erin uses Nightshade Cloud on Hue! [Chance of Poison]

MP: 24/30

"There, that should mitigate the effects of its photosynthesis," Erin stated confidently, rubbing her eyes a bit more wishing that she had been more attentive to the battle. "That's a poison extract from nightshade. Highly potent when cared for just right." She tried to get a glimpse of the effects on the mandragora but it was hopeless. She would have to wait for the effects of the flash to wear off before she could effectively examine anything.

Last edited by Masquerade on Mon Aug 26, 2013 9:01 pm; edited 1 time in total

Dharc continued to run from the advancing plant. He ran backwards until he hit yet another tree. He sat down and felt behind him. A solid thing. Turning to see what exactly was behind him, he noticed a wall of plants that constituted the end of the line. He sighed and stood to try and look at the creature. He still could not quite perceive things as normal; they wiggled and wobbled and tried to fall down, but didn't. He then turned to his left to find... a bag! Curious, he knelt down to the bag and searched inside for its contents, hoping he'd find something useful...

Tiffany went behind Erin and watched as she dispersed a purple liquid over the other plant creature. She looked towards Dharc, who still wasn't doing anything yet but searching a bag. Who knows what might be in there? Spiders, maggots, leeches... the possibilities go on and on... "What do you think you're doing?! Do you know the things that could possibly be in there?""Exactly!"Tiffany shook her head at this, but just went on. She held her crystal ball in front of herself and muttered another soft prayer, with different stresses and accents. Soon, a soft blue light enveloped Erin, and it seemed to conform to her body rather than just stay with her. The golden light was still present, but it was fading fast... "Stay strong..."

"We have it right where we want it, Tiffany!" Erin exclaimed, her pendant glowing brightly as her vine surged through the ground and struck upwards through the soil to pierce the poisoned mandragora. To think it would be so foolish as to charge them at this critical point! It shouldn't have been very surprising though; the mandragora were not exactly an intelligent species. However, to just practically offer up its life the way it just did was beyond moronic. Erin sighed as she called her vine back to her, expecting Tiffany to finish the thing off leaving Dharc alone with the other one. She wasn't worried though. With the man's power, she actually felt more sorry for the mandragora more than anything else.

Dharc watched as Tiffany was hit by the flimsy plant creature. He felt an instinct of protectiveness and rage, but it was deep within himself, like a distant past. He shook his head and regarded the thing coming toward him. He was tired of this fight; it was dragging on much longer than it should have. The blindness was starting to fade from him, but his vision was still slightly hazy. He drew his scythe and began to twirl. The familiar sound of chirping birds enveloped him and he smiled. He liked the feeling of power that radiated from the weapon: it was a monstrous thing, and forbidden to those who could not handle the sheer weight of it. One, two, three, four, five blades came forth as he spun, wind blowing through the forest, creating a mesmerizing fall of leaves. Strangely enough, the trees seemed to have the same amount of leaves after the foliage fell as before he even started moving. "End this." This could not go on any longer. He needed to find the witch.

Tiffany stumbled backwards from the weak attack. It didn't really hurt, it more likely just startled her. Regardless, she watched as Erin went towards it, piercing the plant with a vine. She liked the girl's power; it was more deadly than her light would ever be... Erin cried to her to finish the plant, and so she did. She raised her crystal ball into the air and she let loose a blast of energy from it. Invisible to normal human eyes, but appearing to her as a bright blue burst of light, the wave of energy bowled the plant over. She wasn't sure if that would be enough to finish the battle, but she could certainly dream... Meanwhile, she started to hear that sound. It was a cacophonous chirping of sorts and she turned to see Dharc tearing the other plant to shreds. Unbelievable power... She was terrified. If that power were to be turned on her, then she would most certainly die.

The forest became quiet and tranquil as it had before, only now tainted with the decimated corpses of the mandragora which were unbelievably quick to decompose. Erin watched as her vine sunk back into the ground and her pendant lost its sheen. She took decisive steps forward, keeping aware of her surroundings before bending over and scooping up a couple of the beautiful crisp leaves that had fallen off the mandragora during the battle. Tucking them away in one of her satchels, she faced Tiffany. Both her and Dharc had done quite well in the battle, the latter exceedingly so to the point where it was just about near frightening. A shiver traversed Erin's spine and she avoided facing the scythe-wielder for the moment.

"Are you hurt? Or perhaps in need of rest?" Erin inquired, a somewhat softer expression on her face. Before the incident with the witch, her face used to be set in a stony expression. She was fierce and hard. Some of the men around the village even considered her a bit frosty at times, but it was just that she was tough. Vincent knew what kind of girl she was at heart, and now it seemed that this stranger and the guy from her village were getting to know as well. Was she losing her edge? She mentally shook her head. This was how she truly was. She figured she didn't have to put up a tough front anymore. What she was doing now, some people wouldn't even fathom to dream about doing.

"If not, then we could proceed onwards. The trees whisper to me that....well, things aren't exactly going to be completely easy on our way out of here thanks to this little skirmish, even though we didn't start it," Erin tagged the last bit on flatly, her soft expression quickly fading into one of disdain. Chances were they hadn't seen the last of the mandragora, and she wanted to make sure the others were ready to engage more if need be.

The duo watched as the tranquility resettled over the forest. How was the forest able to withstand such a battle without any consequences? Was it truly eternal as the legends had said? Was it the witch's power that kept the forest in limbo? They wondered as the quiet came over the scenery once again, save for the quiet rustle of leaves caught in the gentle winds. Erin, however, broke them out of their reverie by speaking once again.

Tiffany turned towards the herbalist and looked her in the eyes. She had asked whether they needed to rest. Rest was impossible. She would not hear of trying to stop for mortal needs, especially when this curse made her not really so. She looked towards Dharc, who seemed to be more aloof than when they had started their pilgrimage, and she assumed that he would be fine, seeing that he had such an unnatural power about him. She sighed and looked back at Erin with sadness in her eyes. "I have no need for rest at the moment. The one thing that concerns me most is finding my humanity, which means going back towards the witch to get what she stole from me. Delays are unacceptable. As for any injuries... I believe we are both fine."

Dharc listened to the divine woman speak, thinking that he would need to start talking before she steered them in the wrong direction, but she gave him no chance to. Sighing and muttering to himself, he walked towards the two and tied his scythe to himself with a small rope of twine. As she spoke, he had his own thoughts to contend to. How was Vincent? Was he holding up well? Why should he care? He deserved what he got. However, that would defeat the entire purpose of his expedition, and besides, he needed to give the boy a piece of his mind as well. He bent his head downward and didn't say a word.

He also noticed that the herbalist didn't look at him. Was she scared? She should be. He didn't like having to associate with people, and being forced to do so was like pushing an animal into a corner. One just didn't do that. However, Erin was also starting to show a bit more of herself than she had recently since Vincent disappeared. He slightly wondered what was up with that, but it didn't stay on his mind very long. As Tiffany finished speaking, he looked back up. "I'm fine. Let us go. We can't afford to waste time."

One with conviction, one with vengeance, the two were ready to continue in their pilgrimage.

With the two assuring her that they would be all right to continue, Erin nodded solemnly and gestured for them to follow her down the path. The leaves crunched under her boots as she went along, leading her new companions back out of the forest. The plants were avid with their warnings; it became evident that a future struggle was at hand. Punishing the mandragora might not have been the best course of action, but it was certainly the fastest at the time--they had a mission to fulfill after all. The longer Vincent stayed with the witch, the higher the chance that he would die. Her heart raced at the mere thought, and she tried to focus on watching the path as it wound round the trees which were becoming more spaced apart as they neared the edge, but they certainly weren't out of the woods yet, literally and metaphorically. She came to a halt suddenly and gazed around. They were certainly not alone.

"It seems as though I've ignored the warnings of the plants for too long." From out of some bushes bordering the path, two mandragora shot out and blocked the path. Giggling could be heard resounding through the area, and in twin flashes of golden light, two sprites appeared flying in the air. They were rather small as most faeries were, their skin white and flawless like snow. They wore little orange dresses with jagged hems that made it seem like they had been ripped. Their eyes were soft, yet held a great sense of mischief, their irises being a light blue in color. Both had long blonde hair, and out of their backs were translucent, glittery wings that flapped furiously as they hovered in the air. They said nothing but both shot an accusing finger at the trio whilst the mandragora stomped the ground angrily, makeshift snarls on their faces.

"The plants tell me that the sprites are gifted healers and magicians. Be wary," Erin cautioned her allies as she waved a hand causing a single vine to shoot up in a flash from the soil next to her. And so the revenge attempt was being put into play, but Erin wasn't about to succumb to the tantrum of some enchanted flora and woodland faeries.

The three proceeded through the forest once again, determined to get back what was rightfully theirs. Dharc loomed upon memories of his past, trying to not be affected by the hurt he felt, nor be distracted from his current task at hand, but somehow, he was not entirely sure he would be able to do so. He had his youthful image about him and would never lose it, but could he really be happy about that? Could he really say that looking young and beautiful forever was worth the price he so readily paid for it? He was not sure, and in his stomach, he felt quite a quiver. One of that who did not like having things change before him. Before he had noticed Vincent had disappeared, he was at the prime of his life, and nothing could seemingly bother him. There was nothing in the world that could bring him from his reverie and he was determined to stay there, but then one day... he knew.

There had been something wrong in the air, he could taste it, that was for sure. He had walked through the town hearing the signs of affection drooling over his form. He was used to that... but something had been missing that fateful morning. He shook his head however as Erin began speaking. He looked about as he heard a tinkling laughter a ways before him. What looked like two specks of light were floating in the distance. Dharc couldn't quite see the things clearly from where he was standing, but he could tell that there was some more Mandragora. That was a problem. He did not like to be hindered.

Taking his scythe from his back, he swung it and stood in front of the herbalist. "These creatures have a death wish. I do not take kindly to hindrances and annoyance in my path. This will be a swift fight."

Meanwhile, Tiffany was having her own problems within the chain of memories she had gathered. She wallowed in the grief she felt when she saw the poor woman run away from her. She was the epitome of assistance, the new scion of divinity. She was now a goddess... and people ran from her. She was not worshiped, she was idolized... in fear. This was not at all what she had asked the witch for, and yet no one saw her as an image of piety. She was a nightmare.

Almost with a sob, she was trapped within her own self-pity. She had succumbed to the hubris that came with working with clergy for most of her life, and now she was paying the consequences. Something had to be done. She had to get her life back, so she could begin her repentance towards the gods anew, so that she could be a divine servant once again. She would only feel true happiness working in that lower position, not trying to grovel above everything else as if she was the supreme ruler of all. That was not right. She felt regret and remorse for her actions, in fact, she felt them tenfold. She should not have made this binding contract with the witch, yet her greed overcame her. This must be rectified.

Then before her, she heard bits of laughter in the distance. She looked up and saw two twin spheres of golden light, within them were little people. "Faeries?" Upon scanning the forest closer, she found more Mandragora, the likes of which were just as repulsive as the last. This would not do, she needed to find the witch and get her life back. Tiffany listened to what Dharc had said and she almost smiled. They were all in the same predicament, her, Dharc, and Erin. They would all make sure to do their best to get through this battle quickly, so as to get back what they had lost. "If the gods will our standstill, I shall not argue, but as a divine power, I must lay these souls to rest. I bless our swords with strength. Let us fight."